Tota Scriptura
Currently viewing the tag: "Baptism"
Deuteronomy 30:6 (ESV) — 6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
As I have surveyed my somewhat vast library and Logos software, I have [...]
Craig Blomberg on Baptism
By Rick Hogaboam On September 9, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Baptism, Credo-Baptist Apologies, Theology
Craig Blomberg, professor at Denver Seminary, laments the sad state of baptism in most Evangelical churches today. Here is an extended excerpt. The full article can be linked at the end. HT: Justin Taylor.
But in our age in which tolerance so often seems to trump truth, we need to return to [...]
Baptism and Becoming a Christian
By Rick Hogaboam On August 19, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Baptism, Credo-Baptist Apologies, Theology
New Testament Scholar, Dr. Robert Stein, has a wonderful journal entry titled, “Baptism and Becoming a Christian in the New Testament”. In it, he discusses how the NT conception of “Salvation” consists of five components: repentance, faith, confession, regeneration, and baptism. He also mentions how “Justification” come through faith and baptism. [...]
John Piper on the Particular Benefits Extended to Children of Believers…My Thoughts on Baptist and Reformed Perspectives on Children and Relation to Covenant
By Rick Hogaboam On July 28, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Baptism, Calvinism, Children, Communion/Lord's Supper, Covenant Theology, Family, Fatherhood, Homeschool, Motherhood, Theology
Here is an extended quote from John Piper from the following article, “What Did Christ Purchase for Your Children with His Blood?”:
But did the blood of Christ purchase no privileges for the children of believers? Did the blood of Christ not unite families across generations? What about
John Calvin spends Book 4, Chapter 15 of his Institutes dealing with baptism. He spends the following chapter dealing with infant baptism. Some have suggested that there is enough distinction in Calvin’s treatment to indicate that he had two separate theologies for believer’s baptism and infant baptism. That is a debatable issue, but it is interesting [...]
One of my contentions with paedobaptism is that a direct analogy is sought with NT baptism and OT circumcision, while generally ignoring the baptism of repentance administered by John the Baptist. If God’s covenant people, bearing circumcision, are told to repent before the reception of the new sign of baptism under John the Baptist, then [...]
George Beasley-Murray, in his volume “Baptism in the New Testament”, has a wonderful chapter on infant baptism, noting the development of the rite and theology of the rite. Beasley-Murray is a credobaptist, and thus responds to many of the errors in paedobaptist thought. In his treatment of the Anglican church and baptism, he notes how [...]
Baptism and Easter
By Rick Hogaboam On April 21, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Anglicanism, Baptism, Church History, Theology
Pictures: Picture on top left is of a Catholic Baptism (notice that he is standing in a pool of water a full pitcher is being poured over his head). Picture on top right is of an Anglican baptism (notice full submersion).
We will be baptizing some folks this coming Easter [...]
My wife and I lead our children through evening devotions. We use the catechism for theological instruction, some devotional material for “practical theology,” Bible consumption to train them to hear the construct of the text, and Bible memorization to hide God’s Word in the heart. Often times, I will conclude our devotions by making a [...]
The vote was 25-24 in opposition to immersion and if one person changed their mind, things would be different to say the least.
At times when one eavesdrops on the Assembly’s deliberations, one can only marvel at the providence that produced such a majestic outcome from such an astonishing pot-pourri of discussion. This is nowhere [...]
David Wright devotes a chapter to the Westminster tradition of baptism. Interestingly, the drafting of the statement on baptism elicited some discussion and revision. One divine, Jeremiah Whitaker, is perhaps the singular cause for the final draft containing strong but qualified language regarding baptismal efficacy. Granted there’s qualifications, but Wright notes that one misses the [...]
I couldn’t help but notice the complexity and confliction in Bucer’s view of baptism and some similarities with the Federal Vision’s statement on baptism. He views it as efficacious and administered precisely because of it’s spiritual value and the infant’s covenantal status, but at the same time retains the qualification of God’s inscrutable election, which [...]
Augustine’s Reflections on His Deferred Baptism
By Rick Hogaboam On February 16, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Baptism, Credo-Baptist Apologies, Theology
Augustine championed infant baptism, mostly influenced by his anti-pelagian polemics in which he determined baptism as the answer to original sin. It has been noted, however, that Augustine was himself not baptized as an infant. He bemoans that his baptism was withheld, but it is important to note that he does not express displeasure because [...]
4th Century Credo-baptisms
By Rick Hogaboam On February 16, 2011 · 1 Comment · In Baptism, Book Reviews, Credo-Baptist Apologies, Theology
Wright notes a hall of fame lineup of churchmen who were raised in Christian homes and yet not baptized until they were of mature years,
If we move from precept to practice, we encounter that widespread group of later fourth-century churchmen and churchwomen nurtured in Christian families but not baptized until they were of independent years. [...]
Credo-Baptist Witnesses from The Apostolic Fathers
By Rick Hogaboam On February 15, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Baptism, Book Reviews, Credo-Baptist Apologies, Theology
Wright weighs the testimony in favor of credo-baptism:
The directions for baptism in the Didache envisage responsible participants as its subjects. There is no provision for young children, but nor are they explicitly excluded. If we recall that only one small paragraph betrays the place for infants in the lengthy baptismal order in the Hippolytan [...]
There is little evidence from the Apostolic Fathers on the practice of infant baptism. If anything, the liturgies assume the baptism of a consenting convert. Though there are references to having served God for one’s life, as in the case of Polycarp, this is still inconclusive regarding the actual rite of baptism. The silence can [...]
Who Bears the Burden of Proof on Infant Baptism?
By Rick Hogaboam On February 15, 2011 · 2 Comments · In Baptism, Book Reviews, Credo-Baptist Apologies, Theology
Many paedo-baptists would argue that credo-baptists bear the proof in articulating discontiuity in the Covenant administrations as it involves children and signs. Credo-baptists have argued that the burden of proof rests with paedo-baptists since we see no clear inclusion of infants, nor a theology attached to baptism that seems to conclusively include children. Wright suggests [...]
Augustine is the one who really cemented a doctrine of paedo-baptism with it’s practice. It is really from this point on that there is qualified consensus in the church. Wright notes, however, that modern paedo-baptists are somewhat in a quandary for they generally don’t accept all of Augustine’s theology, but modify it to varyiing degrees. It [...]
Wright suggests that the practice of infant baptism actually stregthened the doctrine of original sin as the church dealt with the Pelagius issue, baptismal efficacy in washing away sins, and the distinction between the nature of sin in infancy and childhood compared with rebellion in later years.
There is no doubt that the custom of infant [...]
According to Wright, the chasm today over the waters of baptism is wider than in the past. At the same time, it wasn’t like everyone was on the same page then.
Although Christian baptism was often surrounded by contention in the patristic centuries, especially in the western church, the period saw no significant disagreement about [...]
David F. Wright on the Baptism of Young Children
By Rick Hogaboam On February 15, 2011 · 10 Comments · In Baptism, Book Reviews, Credo-Baptist Apologies, Theology
Wright concludes his first chapter, “The Origins of Infant Baptism – Child Believers’ Baptism?”, by stating:
In the year 381 Gregory Nazianzen advised that children should normally be baptized at about the age of three ‘when they can take in something of the mystery, and answer (the questions), and even if they do not yet [...]
The Evolution of Baptism in the First 4 Centuries
By Rick Hogaboam On February 15, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Baptism, Credo-Baptist Apologies, Theology
I have read Ferguson, who is here quoted by Wright, and concur that infant baptism was first given in emergency, and then became normal practice into the 3rd century as the church essentially adopted a view of baptismal regeneration. As debates about post-baptismal sin arose, baptism was then delayed until one was near death in [...]
How are we to assess the intertextual relationship between the covenants in relation to baptism and circumcision? One key for me is that the Abrahamic covenant, which entitled physical seed to the sign of circumcision, is fulfilled in the seed that is Christ, who is the true circumcised seed of Abraham.
The [...]
My post on baptismal regeneration has generated some healthy dialogue. I feature it here:
Joel says:
January 13, 2011 at 6:54 am (Edit)
Does the marriage ceremony marry?
What did circumcision do?
“What then about the efficacy of baptism according to the Westminster Confession? Its central affirmation seems clear: “the [...]
Credo-Baptist Apologies #1 “Who is the ‘church’ according to Luke?”
Acts 2:41 (ESV) — 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Luke tells us that about 3000 folks reponded to Peter’s message and were baptized. This happens to be a company of men, [...]
Does the Bible teach baptismal regeneration, that one is saved by baptism?
Well, there are some groups who believe in some nuanced form of “baptismal regeneration”. Some groups baptize babies on the ground that it is a necessary sacrament for their salvation. Catholics and Lutherans would fall in this camp. There are other groups [...]
Lusk, Rich. 2005. Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents. Monroe, LA: Athanasius Press.
Rich Lusk serves as pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He has been a prolific writer and ardent defender of The Federal Vision. This book [...]
A Great Covenantal Credo-Baptist Response to Covenantal Paedo-Baptists
By Rick Hogaboam On December 22, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Baptism, Book Reviews, Free Ebooks, Free Resources, Theology
There is a great book that I read some time back, titled “Believer’s Baptism: The Sign of the New Covenant in Christ”. There is a chapter titled, “Baptism and the Relationship Between the Covenants” by Stephen Wellum, which is a response to some recent works such as Gregg Strawbridge’s, “
Trevor Wax interviewed a panel of Romanian Baptist pastors, asking some probing questions about catechesis, baptism, and rebaptism. You can find the link here.
One issue that personally troubles me is that 40% of reported baptisms in the U.S. are re-baptisms. Trevor Wax asked about this issue and I was impressed with Pastor [...]
This is a Baptism Bibliography of works I have read:
Adams, Jay E.. Meaning & Mode of Baptism. Philidelphia: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Company, 1979. Print.
Aland, Kurt. Did the Early Church Baptize Infants?. Eugene: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2004. Print.
Believer’s Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ (Nac Studies in Bible & [...]
Over on Facebook, Pastor Rick wrote:
…if there was continuity in the constituting [of] God’s covenant people, Jesus would never have told Nicodemus that he must be born again. How dare Jesus be so pietistic as to tell a respected “covenant” member that he needs to be born again.
He echoes a question I [...]
A Baptismal Homily
By Rick Hogaboam On June 29, 2010 · Leave a Comment · In Audio Sermons, Baptism, Ecclesiology (Church Stuff), Romans, Sermons
Here is a link to the audio.
Here is my sermon outline:
Romans 5:18-6:14 Baptism Signifies a Changed Identity
Pastor Rick Hogaboam, Sovereign Grace Fellowship, 6.20.2010 A.D.
Romans 5:18–6:14 (ESV) — 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to [...]
In short, John Piper says the following in his exposition of 1 Peter3:21:
In verse 21 he does say, “Baptism now saves you” – that sounds like the water has a saving effect in and of itself apart from faith. He knows that is what it sounds like and so he adds [...]
Peter Leithart posts a thoughtful and beautiful reflection on baptism that I amen throughout, but only if he qualifies his last comments:
That is the calling that baptism lays on your son today. His baptism calls him, of course, to obedience and faith, but not only that. Through baptism, he is brought [...]
Robert Rayburn states at his Church’s website:
“We do not practice paedocommunion here at Faith Presbyterian. We get as close to it as we can, the rules of our church being what they are, but a profession of faith is still required in the PCA for participation at the Lord’s Table. So, [...]
I have written much on this topic and only wish to offer here a little tidbit on why I am a convinced “credo-Baptist”, meaning that I believe the Bible to teach that one must actually repent to receive the sacrament of baptism.
In my continued thesis research on Pentecost, it is becoming increasingly clear that [...]
Growing up Pentecostal and still considering myself a “neo-Pentecostal” of sorts, I wish to honor Calvin’s influence upon Pentecostal theology in this the year of his 500th birthday. I see his influences mostly in regards to the Lord’s Supper, Sanctification, and Ecclesiology.
First, in regards to the Lord’s Supper, note the following [...]
For those of you who are working through the issue of baptism, whether it should be for believers only or for infants of believers, here is a link to a debate between James White and Bill Shishko: http://inthylight.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/james-white-and-bill-shishko-infant-baptism-debate-mp3s/
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